Is my cat happy? Something every cat lover asks themselves…
This post will give you an insight into the range of feelings and emotions that cats experience. It’s important to understand how your cat is affected by their environment and often, this requires your finest detective skills! Here, you will find useful links and 8 practical ways to ensure your cat lives their best & happiest life!
Do cats have feelings?
The simple answer is 100% yes!
Your cat is super sensitive to the world around them and they experience many feelings every day. These feelings are a direct response to their environment, experiences, relationships (with humans, other cats and other animals) and genes. Your cat can experience positive and negative feelings, and how they cope can potentially endanger or enhance their quality of life.
What kinds of feelings does my cat have?
Before you read on, it’s important to know that even the happiest of cats, will sometimes experience negative feelings. This is completely natural, in accordance with their survival instincts and is crucial for their safety. For example, a sleeping cat may be startled by a lawnmower and initially experience panic/fear. Using their fight/flight responses, they may choose to run, freeze, or accept that the noise is annoying, but no threat. Similarly, your cat may experience panic or fear if they are approached (without invitation) by an unknown dog. They might run fast to get away, or simply freeze in fear. If the cat feels overwhelmingly threatened, they might strike outwards to defend themselves (this is usually a last resort though, as cats will avoid deliberately putting themselves at risk of injury).
Positive feelings & emotions
Cats will normally experience positive emotions when they feel safe and in control. Your cat will experience pleasure and comfort by ‘seeking’ and finding food, warmth and fuss (on their terms of course!). They will feel motivated, stimulated & excited by exercising their natural instincts – playing, hunting & exploring novelty areas/things of interest.
It is critical for your cat’s welfare that they regularly experience positive feelings and emotions.
Your cat’s overall physical and psychological condition must be in good shape for their emotional wellbeing to thrive. For example, if suffering with physical pain, they might not be able to access their favourite hiding/resting place. If they experience pain each time you give them a fuss, this is no longer a positive experience. Another example, if a toddler continuously pokes your cat while they eat, the enjoyment of eating will very likely disappear.
Negative feelings & emotions
Your cat can also experience negative feelings such as, frustration, fear/anxiety, and pain. Their experiences and perception of their home environment will determine how they feel they can cope (or not). Negative emotions can be short or long term. A cat who has been accidentally shut in a garage/shed for a few hours may experience feelings of frustration/fear. Such feelings are likely to fade quickly after they have been released (and eaten!) Alternatively, cats who are constantly and unwillingly picked up, or chased everyday by the dog, may suffer long-term emotional affects.
Living with long term negative emotions can cause chronic stress for a cat. This may present in their physical/psychological condition and owners may report ‘problem behaviours’ (aggression, scratching furniture, spraying, hiding, loss of fur, loss of appetite… the list goes on!) Sadly, many cats will deliberately hide their emotions (to cover up their vulnerability) and owners are often completely unaware.
How do cats experience feelings?
Imagine, your cat enjoys a peaceful breakfast and chooses to find a perfect spot in the sunshine. Safe, warm and in control. The occasional butterfly stimulates your cat’s natural desire to seek and play. Pure bliss! After an hour, they spot you and approach you for fuss (on their terms) before finding some treats you’ve hidden. This cat is in control (able to make choices) and enjoys the comfort and safety of their environment.
A cat who has an unexpected, close encounter with a dog may experience a burst of anxiety/fear which, subsides quickly. In the same situation, a cat suffering from chronic stress may experience more intense fear and anxiety. This may last much longer and add to their existing low emotional state.
Even the happiest of cats will occasionally experience negative feelings. Some situations are unavoidable (such as bangs during fireworks or pain from an illness). As owners (and lovers of cats) we must make sure that positive experiences and emotions greatly outweigh any negatives.
How can you tell how your cat is feeling?
There are many ways to recognise how your cat feels, but good, objective observation is the key. As humans we are sometimes quick to make assumptions and often, only see what we want to see. You have probably seen those pictures that reveal 2 different images when you look carefully? Usually, we see one image and have to concentrate hard and keep an open mind to see the other! An example is an owner describing their cat as miserable, when in fact the cat is in pain and withdrawn.
Being able to interpret your cat’s body language is really helpful (and really interesting). Ear and tail positions, stance, eyes, licking, swallowing, grooming, eating (and more!) are all clues about how your cat is feeling. To learn more about your cat’s body language check out this super guide by Cats Protection, click here
Happy Cats
Happy cats show signs of being calm, relaxed, confident and playful in their environment and deal effectively with daily challenges. They may enjoy being in the company of others and confidently initiate fuss or play. They show interest in new things (to rub their faces on) at home, and quickly leap after anything that flies past! Cats practicing these ‘seeking behaviours’ will often position their ears upright and forwards. Their eyes will appear rounded with dilated pupils.
Contented cats will completely relax (without appearing hunched up) and they may respond positively to gentle fuss with a soft, contented purr. They may even initiate a snuggle up on the sofa (if you are really lucky!)
Being able to access their resources easily (food, water, litter, bed) will be comforting for your cat. Finding somewhere good for stretching and scratching will also be quite satisfying, in more ways than one! Click here to learn about why cats need to scratch!
Cats in pain
This is where your skill as a good, knowledgeable owner comes into play! Cats don’t always show pain (this is instinctive behaviour for protection -in their eyes pain makes them vulnerable to prey). Therefore, being observant and knowing your cat well is crucial for spotting signs!
Always seek immediate advice from your vet if your cat’s behaviour suddenly changes. They may become aggressive and less tolerant of fuss, or they may lick/groom certain areas excessively. They may lose interest in play and become less active. Changes in appetite/thirst or an increased number of hours hiding may all suggest pain. Never ignore this and always get advice from your vet.
Frustrated Cats
Frustration can be short lived and unavoidable or ongoing and devastating for your cat. Short lived frustration could be experienced by a cat who’s been accidentally shut in a room. They feel frustrated because they can’t escape. To escape, they scratch or paw at the door, call (loudly) and explore other options, such as open windows! My cat was frustrated when I locked the cat flap early on Fireworks night. He showed this by biting the frame of the cat flap and thrashing his tail about. This soon subsided in response to some fun games & distracting tasty treats!
In cases when frustration is un-noticed or ignored, cats can enter into depressive emotional states. At this point, some cats literally give up their fight. This is known as ‘learned helplessness’ and is incredibly sad.
Long term frustration could be a result of; constantly being shut in (or out!), frequently being picked up (unwillingly), long periods of time without food/water, unclean litter trays, difficult relationships in multicat/pet homes, being tormented by children or other cats in the house.
In response to ongoing frustration, cats may display behaviours which owners describe as problems i.e. aggression, attention seeking, unpredictable behaviour. Over time, their physical condition may also deteriorate and you might notice signs such as; body/back twitches, frequent licking the mouth/nose, over grooming/biting fur.
Fear & Anxiety in cats
Cats may experience fear and anxiety in situations of threat or danger that they can’t cope with. Cats who are generally struggling emotionally, may experience more intense, or longer lasting effects from fearful situations than cats who cope well. Not all cats will find the same situations frightening – every cat is unique. As with frustration, the effects of fear/anxiety can be short or long term, and in some cases cause chronic suffering.
Reactions to fear vary considerably. Some cats may choose to run from a situation, or they might freeze on the spot. They may show aggression (usually in self-defence) or use vocalisation/body language as a warning (if the threat is from another cat, person or animal). A frightened cat may lower or flatten their ears and hold their tail closely against their body. Their pupils may dilate and they may hiss or spit as well as raise the fur on their back and tail (known as Pilo erect). A fearful cat may walk very low to the ground (crouching) whilst moving exceptionally slowly.
Cats who live with chronic anxiety and fear may spend most of their time hiding or avoiding specific places, people or other cats/animals. They will be unlikely to initiate fuss or play and their appetite poor. Cats who are not coping with life due to this chronic suffering may soil in the house (through fear), overgroom (resulting in poor/sparse fur) or suffer from frequent sickness and diarrhoea.
Tops tips for helping your cat to feel their best!
- Keep your cat in good physical health. Maintain preventative treatments for parasites and ensure vaccinations are up to date! Remember that cats are good at hiding pain, be vigilant and never delay getting anything unusual checked at the vets.
- Don’t ignore anything that you think is causing your cat fear or anxiety. Seek advice from your vet if you are unsure how to improve a situation in your home.
- Allow your cat to feel in control by ensuring that they always have choices i.e. to leave a situation or retreat to a safe place (often high up!) Never force or trap a cat to do something that it finds distressing.
- Prevent boredom! Keep your cat’s mind stimulated (it’s fun for you too!) We are working on a new article to give you lots of ideas… watch this space!
- Positive experiences in your cat’s life should greatly outweigh any unavoidable negatives. Think ‘quality of life’
- Know your cat, enjoy their unique character and let them show you what they want. If your cat loves playing – do loads of it! If your cat enjoys fuss – give loads of it!
- Read more articles on morepurrs.org.uk to keep learning about your cat
- Always be patient, with each cat is a complex soul who doesn’t come with a manual.
For more practical tips and expert advice, check out International Cat Care and Cats Protection
